Work on Skyway Stage 3 starts tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - The advance work site of Skyway Stage 3 will be set up tomorrow on the center island of Osmeña Highway, from Buendia in Makati to Quirino Avenue in Manila, with the closure of two southbound inner lanes between F. Torres street and Arellano Avenue.

The three northbound lanes along Osmeña Highway will remain open to motorists, Citra Central Expressway Corp. said in a statement.

The three remaining southbound lanes are also passable where traffic is expected to be manageable barring any incidents like stalled vehicles or accidents.

Motorists are advised to keep their vehicles roadworthy and to drive carefully to prevent accidents that could create traffic congestion.

In its advisory, Citra said those who wish to avoid the stretch of Osmeña Highway between Quirino Avenue and the Buendia-end of the Skyway-SLEX may take alternate routes.

Manila-bound motorists using the Skyway-SLEX may exit at Magallanes, Don Bosco or Amorsolo, instead of exiting down the Buendia Off-Ramp.

Additional traffic personnel will be deployed around the vicinity of the work area to oversee the flow of traffic and assist motorists.

The Skyway Stage 3 team will be coordinating closely with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Toll Regulatory Board and the city government of Manila to ensure the safety and convenience of motorists and commuters.

Full-scale construction will begin in April this year. The 14.8-kilometer Skyway Stage 3 project, which connects SLEX to North Luzon Expressway from Buendia to Balintawak, aims to decongest EDSA, C-5 and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

It also aims to reduce travel time from Buendia to Balintawak from two hours to 20 minutes or less.

MMDA launches traffic website

The MMDA on Friday launched an online information service to keep motorists updated on the progress of the 15 major infrastructure projects in the metropolis.

Dubbed the “Metro Manila Roadway Tablet,” motorists and the public can access online information at www.mmroadway.com.

“The site will contain the status of the project and detail the alternate routes to be taken by motorists. It will also have a chat board where motorists can post messages or complaints about the project,” said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.

He advised motorists to brace for heavy traffic as the Skyway 3 project starts construction at 10 p.m. tomorrow.

According to Tolentino, 10 posts will be erected from the foot of the Skyway along Gil Puyat Avenue.

“There will be no total closure but motorists will have to learn how to drive bumper to bumper and shoulder to shoulder,” he said.

Tolentino said the MMDA expects that the traffic volume along EDSA will increase by 55 percent once the Skyway 3 project starts.

Pasig River ferry service

The MMDA will also operate a ferry service on the Pasig River starting April until 2016 to help commuters.

Tolentino said the ferry service will take passengers from Guadalupe in Makati to Escolta in Manila and vice versa.

He said each ferry could carry as many as 40 passengers who will be charged a minimal fare.

But the ferries would not operate 24 hours a day, Tolentino said.                                                             

The MMDA hopes that by operating a ferry service, private businessmen would also be inspired to invest in a ferry system as an alternate mode of public transportation.

He said a private firm operated a ferry service on the Pasig River in 2011 but stopped after failing to generate profit.

– Mike Frialde